ATER aerobics returns to the swimming pool at Warwick Academy this month, providing the opportunity for residents of all ages and fitness levels to tone and strengthen their bodies.

Taught by Marilyn Martin, the proprietor of Fit 'N' Firm, the classes are even appropriate for non-swimmers.

"If you are new to water aerobics, prepare yourself for the most satisfying workout you have ever had," she enthused. "It suits all ages and abilities ? from those recovering from injury to elite athletes. You do not even have to know how to swim. Water is such a levelling modality. There's no competitive factor. In the water we're all the same size. No one can tell whether or not you're co-ordinated. Water aerobics is very individual to each person. No one can tell who's working harder. It's the only class I teach where everybody's smiling."

Though her days are spent behind a desk, Ms Martin is no stranger to fitness instruction. Aside from water aerobics, she is certified as a group fitness trainer and a personal trainer and a yoga instructor. She is also a skilled therapist, offering Thai yoga massage. As well, she has certification in two first aid methods, CPR and AED.

Ms Martin aims to teach one-hour classes throughout the summer, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 14.

"Everyone can benefit but a pool workout is especially great for people who find a land workout difficult for various reasons. If you have never exercised, the pool is a great place to start. People who are recovering from an injury find that they can increase range of motion and get back to normal faster, by working out in the pool because they can start back exercising in the pool long before they would be able to on land.

"If you are overweight, the water will take the weight off your joints making it much easier to get pain-free exercise. Arthritis sufferers find that range of motion can be increased in the pool easier than with land exercise.

"Pregnant women find it comfortable to work out in the water as the water holds the baby up and they are more comfortable during exercise. Even someone who is already very fit can benefit from this joint-friendly workout."

Ms Martin has been teaching classes for around 12 years. Trained locally by Ann Mello and Ellen Lopes, she began teaching with them soon afterwards. Ms Martin and a group of interested instructors eventually took over the classes themselves, eager to share the benefits of water aerobics with others.

explained: "Teaching in water is very different," she explained. "Things that work on land don't work in the water and things that work in the water don't work on land. You can do more rebounding for example, in the water than you can do on land. You can do things which allow for suspension because there's no impact on the joints.

"Because we all weigh less in the water, a workout in the pool is much kinder to our joints than a workout on land is. Depending on how deep the water is, you may have only ten pounds of force going down through your body. This puts very little stress on your lower back, hip, knee and ankle joints. It's great for pregnant mothers, for people with arthritis and people with fibromyalgia."

Fibromyalgia, she explained, is a syndrome characterised by chronic pain in the muscles and soft tissues, surrounding joints, fatigue, and tenderness at specific sites in the body.

"It's very painful and there's no cure for it. Persons who have fibromyalgia find it very difficult to exercise, to keep moving ? the water makes it very easy to do so."

She added that there are many benefits to the exercise, that it takes advantage of water's resistance and cooling effect.

"As water is 13 times more dense than air, every time you move in the water it is more difficult, therefore your muscles are getting more toned than they would with the same movement on land," Ms Martin explained.

"On land we must rely on gravity to help us with resistance work. Because of this we can only work one half of a muscle pair at one time. In the water, the resistance is even on all the muscles in any pair, therefore we can work more muscles with one movement in the water than we can with the same movement on land.

"Because we are in fairly deep water, our whole body is being cooled efficiently by the water. We do not get as hot or feel as tired, even though we are working hard. This is very important in the summer in Bermuda when it is too hot and humid to safely exercise without the benefit of air-conditioning.

"Even walking at the wrong time of day can be unsafe in the summer time. Exercising in the water is a very safe form of exercise in the hot summer months. Because the water is helping to cool our bodies as we exercise, our hearts do not have to work as hard, giving us more energy for a longer workout. And it is a great workout ? you're pushing against the water so it's very toning."

classes have seen participants range in age from 16 through 86, the workout described as challenging by seniors and teens. According to Ms Martin, non-swimmers also swear by the exercises.

"Swimming skills are not required. This is not a swimming class, it is an exercise class. What we do is entirely different. We have a lot of people who can't swim. They just stand at the depth they're comfortable in. You will not be asked to go into water that is deeper than you are comfortable going into.

"There are so many people in the class who describe it as the only exercise they can do. You get so much out of it. What we do suggest is that if you do have any health considerations, check with your doctor to see if water exercise is good for you and your special needs."

Classes will be held at 8 p.m. and begin on Monday, May 29. There are no classes on public holidays. Rain however, will not prevent them from being held.

"If it is only raining, the class will be held. If there is lightning it will be cancelled. If the class has started and then lightning starts, the class will be abandoned and time remaining will be added on the subsequent classes. The instructor will always be there no matter what the weather, to tell you if the class will be cancelled due to weather."